MG hit by supply chain delays – but big shipment expected next month

Orders for new MG models are set to be delayed, with the carmaker confirming supply issues have forced it to pushback delivery dates.

Though the lockdown in Shanghai, where Australia-bound cars are built, is now easing and that's likely to bolster the firm's manufacturing efforts, problems further along the supply chain are hampering the company getting vehicles onto local driveways.

However, good news is on the horizon, with the marque confirming to Wheels it expects 7000 cars to land locally in July – almost double its normal monthly shipment.

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“Due to global supply chain issues, some of our vehicle arrival dates may be delayed later than originally estimated at the time of order," a spokesperson told Wheels.

“MG Motor Australia is currently working hard with our parent company to reduce this delay to an absolute minimum.

“As disruptions to global supply chains ease, we will aim to increase output at our manufacturing facilities in an ongoing effort to meet our increasing customer demand.

“These global challenges make it difficult to predict exactly how long it will take for all bottlenecks to be cleared, or when new ones will appear, please be assured we are doing our utmost to ensure as little as a delay as possible."

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So far this year MG has experienced steady supply of its three local models – the MG3 city car, and HS and ZS SUVs.

Though in recent months it has said it's working amongst challenging market conditions when it comes to supply, particularly on the logistics side, it has still managed to land almost 4000 cars a month in Australia for the last year.

In April the company had its best sales month ever, selling more than 4000 cars in Australia for the first time since the brand arrived here in 2016.

According to April's new car sales figures, MG sold 4773 units that month – cementing its position as a top-10 brand.

Out of its three model-strong lineup, the ZS delivered the best result, as it has done solidly for the last six months.

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“MG Motor Australia is continuing to see strong customer demand for our range of vehicles, including the new ZS EV in pre sales," the spokesperson added.

"We are working closely with our supply chain to resolve any bottlenecks and minimise the impact of any delays on customer orders wherever possible.”

As of June 1, MG had registered 455 pre-sales for the new MG ZS EV since it became available in March this year, though 124 examples of the old model still found homes across January and February.

Like many other carmakers, MG is not offering any EOFY deals this year due to the ongoing supply issues facing the industry.